City Water Near Spokane Contamintated from Air Force Base

Residents near Spokane in Airway Heights have been told not to drink the city water because it was contaminated by chemicals from Fairchild Air Force Base nearby. Recent groundwater testing showed levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic and perfluorooctanoic acid concentrations that were higher then levels that are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency according to news reports.

The city and Air Force Base released joint statements that people should not drink the water or use it for cooking until the contaminates are gone. The chemicals found were previously found in private wells out side of the base and came from fire-extinguishing foam that was used in training on the base from the 1970's until last year.